Animal Shelter and FEMA Dilemmas Averted
Donna Lafever and Gina Gibson are explaining the need for more income at the shelter. Photo | PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor, The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County fiscal court held its regular meeting on Thursday, May 14, in a crowded room. The usuals, along with many supporters of the animal shelter, and David and Donna Lafever. The controversy concerned the previous request for a budget increase to run the shelter.
Judge Wilson declared a quorum present, and the agenda was adopted with motions by Miller and Bragg.
This was followed by the approval of the minutes from the April 23rd regular meeting, the April 24th budget workshop meeting, and the April 30th special-called meeting.
After opening the various road department annual supply bids, the HVAC/maintenance, and the janitorial service bids, it was stated that the magistrates would look them over, and the bids would be awarded at the next meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 28th.
Animal Shelter
At the April 23rd meeting, Metcalfe County Animal Shelter veterinarian, David Lafever (Doc), requested an increase of $15,000 per year from the current $30,000. He explained that to vet a medium-sized stray dog costs $320, and the shelter budget wasn’t breaking even.
The fiscal court followed up with a budgeted $36,000, a slight increase, but still not enough for the shelter to cover costs.
Upon learning of the decision, many citizens were in attendance to speak for the shelter. Donna Lafever, shelter manager, and members of the shelter board were also present.
Donna addressed the court, “Doc has written down some of the things that have increased over time. Part-time help, my grandson helps me. Our licenses have increased, insurance, utilities. We pay the taxes, we pay utilities, we pay insurance, we pay all that, out of our pocket, for the shelter. He’s got down professional services, which is him doing the surgeries. The drugs have increased, the facility upkeep, different things like that. I’ve always taken care, or we’ve always taken care of the upkeep on the shelter itself, or the improvements that we’ve made down there. So, we’re asking for an increase per month on the shelter.”
Speaking in support of Donna was Gina Gibson, Treasurer of the shelter board, who added, “Donna works usually seven days a week, going in and out of the shelter to clean, take care of the dogs, after hours and weekends for intakes in the middle of the night…I know she also transports dogs to other rescues and shelters and pays for that herself to do the travel…given what has increased…and there’s more kennels now than there were in the beginning.”
Several residents relayed stories of animal abandonment and mistreatment, and the discussion was lengthy. Wilson explained that the shelter board has worked and raised money to help with spaying and neutering, and shelter items.
Bragg asked what the shelter capacity is. And Donna replied that it depends; she has had as many as 32, but right now there are 7 with 3 more coming. It depends, because some dogs cannot be kenneled together. She added that a litter of puppies can be kenneled together and takes less space. The shelter capacity is actually 25.
After a bit more discussion, Miller said, “I’ll make a motion that we raise renew the contract on the dog shelter/animal shelter, increase the price from $2,500 to $3,600 per month.”
The motion was seconded by Bragg and approved unanimously.
The court took a 10-minute recess due to the lengthy agenda. Upon return, Resolution # 26-0514 listing the duties and salary for the Jailer was approved. A paperwork item suggested by the auditors.
Emergency Management Director Adam Bennett is talking about the grant received by the Rescue Squad to be used to help pay for a truck. Photo | PJ Martin
It was agreed upon to renew a county CD of $234,211.42 for 6 months at the interest rate of 3.70%.
Emergency Management Director Adam Bennett addressed the court and stated that the North Metcalfe Rescue Squad applied for and received a grant of $35,373, which was sent to the county to be used in the purchase of a 2026 Ford F300 4×4 Crew truck costing $53,890. The county has paid the other $18,517 for the truck, and the rescue squad has received it.
Previously contracted to work on back-dated FEMA claims, John Phelps of EUDS Consulting was on hand to present the latest results. Between February 2018 and December 2018, the county received no money from FEMA. “For the last several months, we’ve worked with FEMA, KYM, in de-obligating projects, old projects that weren’t completed. Or we have no way to prove that they were completely okay.”
John Phelps of EUDS Consulting presented a tally of funds paid to and received from FEMA for past disasters. Photo | PJ Martin
He presented, using a spreadsheet, the amounts received and used to pay for each disaster (DR4361, DR4428, and DR4358) from 2018. Part of the funds from DR4702 were applied to the negative balance, and Metcalfe County has now paid all of the monies owed to KYEM/FEMA. This has resulted in the amount of $360,774.22 for the county to be transferred to the road fund and used for approved projects.
Edwards spoke, “I just want to say…there is no way with everything else that we have to do in this office that Lorrie, Connie, or I could have put as much time in on this as John and the EUDS Consulting has done. The best money spent was hiring that firm. They have been able to take this and solely devote their time to this and get us straightened out to the good when we couldn’t have done that…It has been a lifesaver.”
Wilson agreed, and so did the magistrates, who let out a big sigh of relief. Previous to hiring EUDS, the magistrates had made a trip to Frankfort in hopes of clearing up the FEMA issues to no avail.
The usual financials, transfers, and claims were approved, and the meeting adjourned.
The next meeting is scheduled for May 28, 2026, at 9 a.m.
